I was in a hotel watching the Discovery Channel. I rarely watch TV but sometimes I get great illustrations from it. Here’s a case in point. They were filming in a classroom of school children that appeared to be in 6th or 7th grade.

The teacher told the class they were preparing an experiment. She said, “I’m going to hold up two cards. One has a long line and the other has a short line. When I hold them up I’m going to ask you ‘How many think this is the shorter of the two lines when I’m actually holding up the long line. I want you to purposely answer incorrectly. We are going to bring in another student who is unaware of our test to see how he responds.” Everybody agreed and here is what happened.

They brought in the student who was unaware of the experiment. The teacher held up the two cards and said to the students, “Class, here are two cards. One has a short line and one has a long line. How many of you think this is the shorter of the two lines (while she is emphasizing the longer line).

Without hesitation, everyone raised their hands. So what does the other child do? Knowing he was answering incorrectly, he raised his hand too! They brought in another child, then another and another and each time the child rose his or her hand knowing it was wrong!

When I arrived home I had a little family discussion with my children. I told them this story and I also said, “I would like to think if you were one of the children in that class you would have politely disagreed and asked if anyone had a ruler!”

WE NEED TO GET REAL

The fact is many if not most people live their lives just like those school children who knowingly answered incorrectly. They’re afraid to stand up for truth when they know what’s right and most everyone else is wrong.

In Matthew 7:13 Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”